I just couldn't stay off-site! I need help.

[montessori]

We haven't been to DW since Christmas.

That's just too long for me.

It's only a few hours drive away and we have annual passes.
Finances are a little tight so I thought I'd check out some hotel deals off-property.
Last time we stayed off-property, we got a great deal at The Gaylord Palms. It's a beautiful hotel but I didn't like being at a non-Disney hotel.

For the past few years, we have been staying at The Boardwalk, mostly due to getting great deals renting from a DVC owner.
Prior to discovering that wonderful opportunity, we usually stayed at a moderate Disney resort.

I reserved a room at the Radisson Resort Parkway for next weekend. The rate was $90 per night, including tax. But, I couldn't get excited about it! I just kept thinking that I wouldn't be happy there.
I checked with Dreams Unlimited and got a room at Riverside for $121 per night (Florida Resident Rate) and I couldn't resist.
I think it's worth $30 per night more to be on property...we'll skip one expensive dinner and make up the difference that way!

I'm happy with how this turned out but I seriously wish I could get over my obsession with staying on Disney property.

Have any of you felt the same way but have been able to "kick the habit"?

Have a great week-end!

 

[goofy4tink]

Don't think I'll ever be able to kick the habit of on-site!!! Every time I plan for the next trip to WDW, I think...okay, let's save some money and stay off-site. I mean, I don't feel the need to 'live' inside Colonial Williamsburg do I? Or in a tent at Gettysburg? So, what's the big deal. Then, I get on the phone and book the Disney resort I can afford for that trip. Maybe I need a support group here. Oh yeah...it's you guys!!!

 

[BrianD]

I don't consider it a problem to feel the need to stay onsite. Let's face it, there's just an extra piece of magic by staying onsite. Disney really does it up right with their resorts. We just got back from an "offsite" trip, and I now have made the decision that I will only stay onsite in the future. Besides the magic, there are just more perks to staying onsite. Plus the transportation is much better!

So don't consider it a problem. If staying onsite is what makes you happy, then it's worth the extra bucks. I think you made a good decision!

 

[the Legend]

... a no-brainer for me now. Its On-site or nada.

Im willing to delay my vacation to ensure I can afford on-site accomodation. In fact, Ive pushed my current vacation out another month (Was DLR in April, its now WDW in May!) just to earn the extra money to get to WDW.

Even before EMH came back, Ive stayed on-site because to me, its not about the perks, its about the convenience.

I find the convenience of being not only close to the parks, DD and fine dining at WDW, takes alot of pressure off me. I can pretty much do what I want, when I want. Off-site, without your own transport, you're dictated to by hotel bus services which impede your enjoyment and requires a much more stringent approach to visiting the parks, restaurants, shows etc.

In 2000, I missed the opportuity to hook up with the New Zealand CMs who were working at the Millenium Village because of transport issues relating to staying off-site. But Ive stayed on-site since and flat refuse to ever go back.

 

[Trekker]

I can stay in a hotel off-site any where in the world. When I'm at WDW it is onsite all the way. Did off-site once, it was like any other vacation - did not feel like a Disney Vacation.

 

[dahess]

We love staying on the Boardwalk. It is a lot more $$, but I think it's worth it.

 

[Michelemouse]

The only way we even consider staying off-site is when we use Priceline. We are DVC members and sometimes stay off-site on our first night when we arrive late. Then we check into our DVC resort the next morning. I also used Priceline for a quick trip with my son last year.

If finances are tight you might want to consider trying Priceline. I've never paid more than $35 per night (plus taxes & the Priceline fee which bring it to about $45) for a 3* hotel in the WDW area. We have gotten rooms at the Hotel Royal Plaza in DTD, and the Hyatt and Renaissance Worldgate just off property. You cannot choose your resort but if you go to www.biddingfortravel.com you will be able to see a list of WDW area hotels that regularly come up.

Just a thought for when off-site is the only option.

 

[twinmomto3boys]

We stayed off site ONE time and I regretted it the whole time. Especially when we were waiting in line at the TTC for a monorail ride to the MK. They didn't start running them until park opening time so all I could think about was the lucky people staying on site already at the gate.

 

[montessori]

I guess I knew I'd get responses like this!
For most of us, once you stay on-site, there is no going back.

When we stayed at The Gaylord Palms, I didn't feel like we were AT Disney World until we were AT Disney World. I couldn't relax and enjoy the hotel because I felt like we had to get going so we would be AT Disney World.
I wasn't even happy at The Swan when we stayed there last year. Very nice resort, newly renovated rooms, great teacher discount, great location...NOT a Disney resort!

When we stay at a Disney Resort, we are THERE. We enjoy the resorts, we are more relaxed and comfortable. We feel AT HOME.

BUT, we could go to DW more often if I could enjoy an off-site hotel once in a while.
My husband is more easy-going about it, although he likes Disney Resorts more than the rest, he's happy at any nice hotel.
He's easy going about everything actually!

I have mixed feelings about it...I agree that it's worth the extra money to stay at a Disney Resort and it obviously makes a big difference in how much I enjoy my Disney vacation.
Yet, I wish I could enjoy another hotel occasionally. We could hop in the car and drive up on a Saturday morning, stay at an inexpensive hotel that night, and drive home Sunday night.
We'd spend two days at the parks and we'd have a great time!

It wouldn't break the bank and I wouldn't have to go through Disney withdrawal.

Well, we are going to stay at The Riverside next weekend and I am very happy about that! It's been quite a while since we've stayed there and I'm sure we'll enjoy it.
MAYBE, I'll try for a weekend off-site before our annual passes expire in June.
We don't want to miss the Flower and Garden Show at Epcot!
We also love the 4th of July at Disney (have to renew the passes!), it's great to go for a weekend in September after all the kids are back in school, we can't miss the Food and Wine Festival in the fall, and Christmas at Disney is a MUST!

Michelemouse, one of these days I just might try Priceline, I've checked out the BiddingforTravel site but I have always been too afraid to go for it. Thanks for the tip.

The Legend, New Zealand is a beautiful country! We just watched Lord of The Rings again on DVD. Spectacular!
I thank you all for your responses, I know we share a common appreciation for "all things Disney."

Happy Disney Days to everyone!

 

[Mouseteacher]

Staying on Disney property is a habit I don't want to kick! Not that I can - I am addicted!!!!

 

[honeymom]

We stayed at Radisson several years ago when my husband attended a conference there. It was very nice.

That being said, the last time we went to WDW we stayed on site at POFQ for the first time. There's no going back. I cannot afford Disney right now on-site, so we won't go until we can.

Thinking about it, I think I'm actually Magic Kingdomed out (we did Disneyland last year and used to live near Disneyland). I'd go for the kids, but I really look forward to hanging at a nice Disney resort and going to the nice Disney restaurants (especially cause they are so comfy with the kids). Plus, I still enjoy Epcot, AK and MGM.

So, we're saving our money and will try to go out of season when it is more affordable.

I really wonder - given the economy - why Disney keeps raising rates. Wouldn't it be better to get more people on-site spending more money on things other than the resorts. Just a personal opinion.

 

[TeresaNJ]

I know exactly how you feel. My DH has a conference in May in Orlando, and his company is paying for the room, but me and my mom are tagging along, so we're paying the differernce and staying at AKL for a standard room that we got using a code. I tried really hard to talk myself into staying in one of the hotels off property, and then it wouldn't cost anything at all, but I couldn't convince myself. I kept thinking, we'll only be there for four days, and our time is limited, and do I really want to have to drive to the parks while my hubby is at his conference during the day, and then go pick him up when he's done, and it's too much walking for my mom, and on and on, LOL. Now my husband can use th rental car, and me and my mom can go on our merry way during the day using Disney transportation.

 

[BounceyOne]

Hello my name is Stacey and I am an on site addict too.

We occasionally stay a night or two off site if we end up going down a day or 2 ahead of schedule ( a perk of driving) and we will stay off site till our original ressies. Not the same at all for us, we count the minutes until our check in time


Should we start a support group?

 

[minniemmom]

Oh my gosh! I was so happy to read others like myself! We stayed at the Dolphin (after the AKL & GF) this past Christmas, and I was miserable! Yes, this felt like an "off-property" to us!

DS' chorus was staying at the Radisson Parkway this May (trip was cancelled though) and I was planning a separate trip! Just can't do it! No more "off-sites" for this family!

Nobody does hotels like Disney!


Thanks for sharing and listening !

 

[susy]

montessori,

We are also from south FL (hollywood) and in the same boat.
However, our passes EXPIRED (ugh!) in Nov (our last time there at ASSp) and we are not set to renew and go back until Thanksgving (at WL!), as we want to pay of all credit cards and have the cash up front for the trip .

But then.... our anniversary falls on March 4 (peak season!). We wanted to go away for just one night and I didn't know what to do. DH suggested WDW!! Without tickets we would have to be happy with going to DTD and hanging out the pool, but wait... let's dine at Ohana's!!!

I called and also got that great FL Resident rate (it's actually 109 plus tax= about 122.00.) With money from our Disney envelope, we were able to pay all tolls and food!!! We also discovered CSR!!!! Our new favorite resort .

We had such a great trip (you can see the report on the trip reports board).

I already have a plan or next year-
we will celebrate early to take advantage of value season rates and since we will have passes, we will be doing Epcot (with no kids!). CBR or the YC, depending on finances .

have fun!!! I know you will!